Punjab - VAT assessments begin, units unhappy with
excise dept list
The state excise and taxation department has begun to
evaluate the Value Added Tax (VAT) returns of about
10,000 industrial units for the financial years 2006-07
and 2007-08. Only 10 per cent of the units have been
chosen for the tax assessment on a random basis.
Industrialists, however, accuse the excise department of
not making any effort to revise the list and allege that
many units have been receiving assessment notices for
the past 3 years while few others have never been
touched. The unit owners also claim not to have received
their assessment orders despite having completed all
formalities.
The VAT assessment is done to re-check returns filed by
the units and in case of discrepancies, a penalty is
imposed. Even records from the information collection
centre(ICC) and the one furnished in returns is matched.
The detail of C forms attached along with the
intra-state trade is also checked.
Jatinder
Khurana, from the young lawyers association said: “
There is no doubt assessment is a part of the
department’s system. But they should choose new units
every time and many units have got their assessment done
but are yet to receive their orders. This should be
streamlined”.
Deputy excise and taxation commissioner Parampal Singh
countered the claim. “ I am not aware whether any unit
has been chosen repeatedly, but the list has been
prepared on the basis of the sensitivity of cases.
Looking at the annual returns and the actual business,
we choose the companies and everything is being done by
procedure. The assessment orders are being delivered and
if anyone has grievances they can contact me”.
